Clay County Teen Dies Of Possible Overdose; Two Others Are Arrested

Jessie Sowers
A Clay City High School junior died Friday evening at St. Vincent Clay Hospital as a result of a possible narcotic overdose .

Seventeen-year-old Haley Bryan had been brought to the hospital by two 17-year-old juveniles (one male and one female) and 18-year-old Jessie Sowers of Bowling Green.

According to a press release provided by the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Bryan was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. CCSD officials were then called in to investigate the death.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the two males had allegedly stolen a fentanyl transdermal patch from an individual who is prescribed the medication for pain management. Fentanyl is a narcotic medication and is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine.

According to the release, one of the males allegedly removed the fentanyl from the patch and the four youths began to smoke it.

The release noted that Bryan lost consciousness within a few minutes and showed signs of overdose. The three youths told deputies they drove around the county roads in the Clay City and Bowling Green area before deciding to take her to the hospital.

Officials later took the three into custody after interviews.

Clay County Prosecutor Lee Reberger was informed and asked that the two juveniles be held in a juvenile detention center. Both have been initially charged with possession of a controlled substance. The names of the minors have not been released.

Sowers was taken to the Clay County Justice Center with a preliminary charge of possession of a controlled substance.

The investigation into Bryan’s death is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed pending results of an autopsy.